5 Store-Brand Items to Avoid

By Kelli B. Grant

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Though grocery shopping experts have long touted buying store brands as a great savings strategy, consumers are finally paying attention. Maybe too much attention.

Nearly 40% of shoppers purchased more store-brand items over the past year, according to a new survey from research firm Accenture. Two-thirds of shoppers say half of what they buy carries a store-brand label. The main reason: the prices beat those of the big brand names. In most cases, consumers aren’t sacrificing taste, either, because the same big brand producing say, canned veggies, is also responsible for packaging the store’s line. “Quality has really gone up,” says Jill Cataldo, founder of Super Couponing workshops. Stephanie Nelson, the founder of CouponMom.com, agrees. “Some stores actually have several tiers of private labels,” including gourmet and organic products, she says.

But in some cases, consumers are better off sticking with the brand names they know and love, experts say. Those trying out store brands should “start small,” Cataldo says. “Buy one, not 12, to make sure you like it.” Here are five product categories that may warrant caution:

Paper products

Store-brand paper towels, paper plates and other goods can be of varying quality. The toilet paper rolls are often smaller and lighter, says Teri Gault, founder of price-tracking site TheGroceryGame.com. Plates might be flimsier, and towels or tissues may be less absorbent, meaning you’ll need to use more than you might with a brand name, negating savings.

Cleaning products

Consumers tend to prefer brand-name laundry detergent and other cleaning products, Nelson says. The risk: the store brands sometimes are not as strong, she says.

Coupon-heavy items

Store-brand items might not be cheaper after all. “The right coupon and sale combo is key,” Cataldo says. “I still do better on the whole buying national brand instead of house brand.” That combination beats even low store-brand prices. Some stores do offer coupons on their own brands, too, so be sure to compare prices regularly, she says.

Macaroni and cheese

Boxed macaroni and cheese is one of the few categories where shoppers across the board tend to be brand loyal, says Nelson. “It’s Kraft all the way,” she says. Gault says complaints she has heard fault store brands for being “too orange,” and not that cheesy.

Diapers

Some parents love store-brands, Nelson says, but others complain of leaks. Retailers and manufacturers market heavily to new parents with coupons and loyalty rewards, too, so buying store-brand diapers may not be the cheaper option.

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Pay Dirt examines the millions of consumer decisions Americans make every day: What to buy, how much to pay, whether to rave or complain. Lead written by Quentin Fottrell, the blog examines these interactions, providing readers with news, insight and tips on shopping, spending, customer service, and companies that do right – and wrong – by their customers. Send items, questions and comments to quentin.fottrell@dowjones.com or tweet @SMPayDirt.